Flow-measuring apparatus.



J. W. GAMBLE.

FLOW MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1913.

1 1 72,35 1; Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHE ET I- %%ZLO INVENTOR @240 ATTORNEY WITNESSES v J. WfGAMBLE. FLOWMEASURING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1913.

1 1 72, 3 5 1 Patented Feb. 22, 1916. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- i-ii -i: E E 3335 55 31 1 l P Q 2 INVENTOR WITN.ESSES 0" BY g I ATTORNEY UNITED sTA'r s PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH S. LOVERING WHARTON, WILLIAM S. HALLOWELL, AND JOHN C. JONES, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE FIRM-NAME. OF

HARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS.

FLOW-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 20, 1913. Serial No. 807,879.

To all whom it may concern:

not in direct response to the pressure or ve- Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. GAMBLE,

locity of flow of the liquid.

a citizen of the United States of America, The various features of novelty which residing in the city and county of Philadelcharacterize my invention are pointed out phia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have inwith particularity in the claims annexed to vented certain new and useful Improveand forming a part of this specification. ments in F low-Measuring Apparatus, of For a better understanding of the invention, which the following is a true and exact however, and of the advantages possessed description, reference being had to the acby it, reference should be had to the accomcompanying drawings, which form a part panying drawings and descriptive matter thereof. in which I have illustrated and described 7 My present invention consists in imseveral of the forms in which the invention proved apparatus for measuring a flowing may be embodied. liquid;.a'nd the primary object of the in- Of the drawings: Figure l is an elevation vention is to provide simple and effective partly in section of water heating and measmeasuring means suitable for use when the uring apparatus embodying one form of my conditions as to temperature, pressure, and invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in volume of flow, are such as, or are analogous section of water heating and measuring apto those experienced with respect to boiler paratus embodying a second form of my in feed water passing from an open feed water vention; and Fig. 3 is a partial sectional heater to a boiler feed pump. plan taken on the line 33.of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I provide in In the drawings, and referring first to the the path of flow of the liquid to be measconstruction shown in Fig. l, A represents ured an adjustable orifice or orifices, means an open feed water heater of well known for maintaining an approximately contype. As shown, the feed water heater is stant accumulation of liquid on the inlet supplied with steam for heating the water side of said orifices, and means automatithrough the pipe B and the usual oil sepacally responsive to the accumulation of rator B which drains intoa float box C. liquid in some portion of the conduit on the The latter receives the overflow or Waste outlet side of said orifice or orifices for adfrom the heater A when the water level in justing the flow capacity of said orifices as the latter rises above the normal level to the required to supply the demand for the liquid level of the top of the overflow spout A. flowing. By proceeding in this manner, the C represents a waste pipe connection lead- 8 conditions governing the flow through the ing from the bottom of the chamber C and adjustable orifice or orifices are such as to opened and closed by the float actuated make the rate of flow accurately responsive valve C The water to be heated is supto the orifice adjustment and I obtain an plied to the heater through the pipe D indication, record or integration of the flow which discharges into the usual overflow by connecting the orifice adjusting provitrough A and the water overflowing from sions to suitable indicating, recording or inthe trough A runs down over the usual tegrating mechanism. Advantageously and splash. trays or baffles A The flow of water preferably, the orifice adjusting provisions into the heater through the pipe D is reguare' of such character that the movement lated by a valve D, which is automatically thereof to effect difl'erent flows will be in controlled through a lever F and links F linear proportion to the rate of flow. and F by a float E located within the heat- In carrying out my invention, I provide ing chamber and responsive to the water means for maintaining a practically conlevel therein. In so far as above described stant head on the supply-side of the orifice, the heater does not difier from those in comand I adjust the orifice in response to the change in surface level in an accumulation portion of or reservoir connected with the conduit through which the liquid flows and mom use, but I prefer to so proportion the float E and the lever and link connections between it and the valve D that the height of water level in the heating chamber will be regulated more closely than is the case in ordinary heaters of this type.

G represents the service Water discharge connection, from the heating chamber. The pipe G leads to the inlet chamber H of a measuring tank H. The chamber H is separated from an outlet chamber H beneath it by a horizontal partition H in which is formed a discharge orifice H. The effective area of the orifice H under working conditions is regulated by and depends upon the position of an adjusting device in the form of an obturator or plug I which is axially disposed and axially movable with respect to the orifice H, and is preferably so shaped that the flow through the orifice will vary in linear proportion with the vertical displacement of the plug I above its lowermost position in which it closes the orifice H and prevents all flow there through. Those skilled in the art will understand that it is theoretically possible to calculate theproper shape to plug I to obtain this result when the head on the supply side of the orifice is constant or varies in a predetermined manner, but in practice the shape of the plug is ordinarily arrived at experimentally. In general, I may say, however, that the net cross sectional area of the orifice should vary approximately with the axial movement of the plug if the axial movement of the latter is to be proportioned to the flow with a constant head on the supply side of the orifice, but that due allowance must be made for the change in coeflicient of discharge through the orifice, as this coeflicient will vary with the position of the plug. The plug is axially adjusted to increase or diminish the net area of the orifice and thereby to correspondingly change the flow by means of a float J located within the chamber H and responsive to the height of water level therein. The float isconnected to the plug I by a lever K which is fulcrumed at K and is connected at its ends by the links K and K to the plug I and float J respectively. In order to avoid disturbances due to the change in pressure occurring from tune to time in the steam space of the heating chamber, I connect the steam space inthe upper ends of the compartment II of the measuring tank and the heating chamber by a pressure equalizing pipe connection X. Inasmuch as the vertical position of the plug I determines and is a measure of the rate of flow through the orifice H this flow may be indicated, re-

corded or integrated by suitable means connected to and actuated by the plug I. The somewhat conventionally illustrated provisions for this purpose comprise a small mod I extending through a suitable stufling box provided on the top Wall of the chamber H and carrying a pencil or pen I adapted to make a record on the record surface of,

be given to thev and carried by, the drum L which is rotated by the clock mechanism LA. Inasmuch as with the construction described the vertical position of the plug I varies in linear proportion with the rate of flow through the orifice, the quantity flowing in a given time may be integrated from the record traced on the drum L by means of a planimeter.

H represents the service discharge pipe from the compartment H of the measuring tank.

With the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the position of the plug I depends primarily on the position of the float J, and the flow is increased and decreased in responsegto corresponding changes in the demand for water withdrawn through the pipe H The apparatus shown for regulating the height of Water level in the heater can be so adjusted and proportioned as to make the percentage change in the head of water above the orifice H so small as to be practically negligible. Moreover, under ordinary operating conditions the maximum variation in the height of Water level in the heating chamber will occur when the water level builds up to the overflow level from the condensation of steam admitted to the heating cham her through the pipe B after the water supply valve D' is closed. The error in the readings or record obtained at this time is of small consequence, however, both because the flow through the orifice is small and also the coefficient of discharge decreases as the effective area of the orifice becomes very small, so that this dimunition in the coeflicient of discharge at light flows compensates in a measure for the increase in head which may then occur.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, I have made provisions for maintaining a more nearly constant head of water on the supply side of the orifice under all conditions than is obtainable with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 comprises a heater AA having a Water space A in the lower portion of the heating chamber proper from which the water flows over the Weir or partition A into the water storage space A alongside the Water space in the bottom of the heating chamber proper. M represents a centrifugal pump having its suction pipe M opening to the chamber A near the bottom of the latter and having its delivery pipe M discharging into the overflow trough A at the top of the heating chamber. The valve D regulating the admissionof Water to the heater through the supply pipe D, is controlled by a float EA responsive to the height of water level in the chamber A. Water passes from the chamber A to the measuring apparatus through the pipe GA. Aside from the features referred to, the heater AA may be identical with the heater A of Fig. 1.

tions to hold the excess stantly maintained at the height at which water overflows from this chamber into'the chamber A. The remaining water storage capacity of the chamber A, after the water level therein has built up to the level at which the float EA closes the valve D, is ample under all ordinary operating condiwater which may leak into the heater past the valve D or may be formed in the heater by condensation during any period in which the water flowing out of the heater through the connection GA is less than the amount of water then leaking into the heater and formed therein by condensation. The pump M should be of sufficient capacity to pump water at least as rapidly as the maximum rate at which water is withdrawn from the chamber.,H through the pipe GA, but the head against which the pump delivers is quite small and the power-consumed in the operation of the pump is so small as to be unimportant. Furthermore the use of a circulating pump permits of the effective heating of a given amount of water in smaller and otherwise less expensive apparatus than would be required if no such pump were used.

The measuring tank HA shown in Fig. 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that there are two discharge orifices H formed in the wall H separating the inlet compartment H from the outlet compartment H of the measuring tank. In conjunction with each orifice H I employ an obturator or plug. These plugs I and IA may be identical in shape with each other and shaped according to the principles explained in conjunction with the apparatus of Fig. l, but are oppositely directed; that is, the plug I is arranged as in Fig. 1, whereas the plug IA has its small end uppermost and is moved downward to increase the efiective area of the orifice to which it pertains. As shown, the two plugs are connected by links K and K to the opposite ends of the lever K to which is also connected the float JA. The connection between the plugs I and IA and the lever K may well be such that the movements of the two devices in opposite directions are proportional and equal when the two plugs and two orifices are of equal size. lVith this arrangement the downward thrust of the water exerted on each plug opposes, and more or less exactly balances the downward thrust on the other, thus correspondingly reducing the duty of the float JA by which the. plugs are adjusted. As shown, the plug I is connected to suitable recording mechanism. The recording mechanism employed in Fig. 2 and its connection to the plug I might be exactly the same as in Fig. 1, but, as shown, there are differ- .ment shown in Fig. 2.

ences hereinafter explained. If the movements of one plug correspond exactlyto the movements of the other, the record thus obtained will be a measure of the flow through both orifices. Should'there' be lost motion inthe connection between the two plugs I and IA, however, this might prejudicially effect .the accuracy of the apparatus when one only of the plugs is directly connected to a corresponding recording and integrating mechanism as is the case in the arrange- It is to be noted. however, that when an orifice adjusting plug, as the plug I of Figs. 1 and 2, is directly connected to a corresponding exhibiting mechanism, lost motion in the connection between that plug and the means controlling its adjustment, Whether it be a simple fioat as the float J of Fig. 11, or a more complex means such as is formed by the float JA and plug IA of Fig. 2, is immaterial so far as the measurement of the flow past the plug I to which the exhibiting means is directly connected is concerned.

In the particular form of recording apparatus shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the stem I secured to the plug I is provided with rack teeth I on its external portion which mesh with a spur gear N secured to a shaft N. The latter also carries a cam 0. As shown the cam O is in the form of a spiral strip of sheet metalsecured to a disk 0 as by the posts 0 and screws 0 The-disk O is secured to the shaft N. Cooperating with the cam O is a bar P sliding in guides Q, and provided with a cam follower in the shape of a projection P adapted to bear against one edge of. the cam strip 0. A spring R lightly holds the projection P against the edge of the cam strip 0 at all times. The bar P carries a recording point P adapted to trace a record on the clock driven record drum L, which may be identical with that shown in Fig. 1, except that as shown in Figs.2 and 3 the axis of the'drum is horizontal.

It is theoretically possible, of course, to shape the cam O to give a proper record of the flow no matter how the obturators I and IA are shaped. I prefer, however, to shape the obturators as shown, so that the flow through the orifices will be approximately in linear proportion to the displacement of the obturators from their no flow In such case the slide actuating edge of the cam strip 0 will approximate v a simple spiral departing from the latter as required to correct for irregularities in theshape of the obturators and in the co-eflicients of discharge. In practice the obturators and the cam may: well be given the. calculated theoretical shapes required and then the cam may be readily altered in shape as found necessary on testing the apparatus, for it is obviously a much position. I

to correct-for the variations simpler matter to change the shape of. the cam than of the obturators in calibrating the apparatus. The cam 0 also forms an effective multiplying device for making the- 7 for heating the water measured, it is hardly necessary to point out that the the measuring apparatus does not necessarily depend upon whether or not the liquid measured is heated, and if so, upon the method of heating.

To avoid the oena con-imam efiect in the flow through the discharge orifices, the latter may be in the form of elongated nozzle openings shaped as shown in Fig. 2 to reduce the acne, oontmcm, effect to a minimum.

lVhile in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the forms of apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my lnvention,

and that under some conditions certain.

features of my invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is:

1. Liquid flow measuring apparatus com prising in combination, means providing a path of flow including an adjustable orifice or orifices for the liquid to be measured, and a portion beyond the orifice or orifices wherein liquid may accumulate, liquid supply means adapted to maintain a substantially constant liquid head at the supply side of said orifice or orifices, means responsive to the accumulation of liquid in the said portion of said path of flow for adjusting the latter as required to permit a flow therethrough corresponding to the demand for the liquid flowing, and means con.-

operation of nected to the orifice adjusting means for measuring the flow through said orifice or orifices. I

I 2. Liquid flow measuring apparatus comprising in combination, means providing a path of flow including an, adjustable orifice or orifices for the liquid to be measured and. a portion beyond the orifice or orifices wherein liquid may accumulate, liquid supply means adapted to maintain a substantially constant liquid head at the supply side of said orifice or orifices, means responsive to the accumulation of liquid in the said portion-of said path of flow for adjusting the latter as required to permit a flow therethrough corresponding to the demand for the liquid flowing, said orifice adjusting means including a member movable 1n approximately linear proportion to the change in flow corresponding to said movement.

'3. Liquid flow measuring apparatus comprising in combination, means providing a path of flow including an adjustable orifice or orifices for the liquid to be measured and a portion beyond the orifice or orifices wherein liquid may accumulate, liquid supply means adapted to maintain a substantially constant liquid head at the supply side of said orifice or orifices, means responsive to the accumulation of liquid in the said portion' of said path of flow for adjusting the latter as required to permit a flow therethrough corresponding to the demand for the liquid flowing, said orifice adjusting means including a member movable in approximately linear proportion to the change in flow corresponding to said movement and measuring means connected to and actuated by said member and including provisions for compensating for departures from the linear ratio between the movements of said member and the changes in the rate of flow corresponding thereto.

v JOSEPH w; GAMBLE; \Vitnesses p ARNQLD KATZ, S. STEWART. 

